James ratledge



(No Model.) l 2 sheets-*sheet J. RATLEDGE,

SUSPENSION TRESTLB.

N0.- fmgs. Patented Feb'. 9, 1897.

Wilqcsscs J Eme,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. RATLEDGB. vSUS1 BNSI01\I TRBSTLE.

Patented Peb. 9, 1897.1'

wilgzsscs UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES RATLEDGE, OF FAIRMONT, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO VILLIAMD. BROCKMAN, OF SAME PLACE.

S'USPENSION-TRESTLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 576,693, dated February9, 1897.

Application iiled February 14,1896. Serial No. 579,311.' (No model T allwhom, it may conce/fit.-

Be it known that I, JAMES RATLEDGE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fairmont, in the county of Martin and State of Minnesota,have invented a new and useful SuspensionfTrestle, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to those tres tles which are made adjustable, sothat they may as- Io sume various sizes and relations, according to thewill of the person using them and to the conditions under which they areused; and the principal points of the invention lie in certainimprovements in the construction I 5 of the trestle, whereby it is madesusceptible of easier and more varied adjustment than those heretoforeknown.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents aperspeclive View of atrestle conzo structed after the manner of my invention and in operativeposition; Fig. 2, an end elevation; Fig. 3, a cross-section takentransversely through one of the heads; Fig. 4, a 'plan view; Fig. 5, avertical longitudinalsec- 2 5 tion; Fig. 6a perspective view showing thelegs of one head detached therefrom and provided with a rope andwinding-drum, and Fig. 7 a reduced view showing the device ready formoving.

3o The trestle is formed of two principal sections, each comprising theheads 1 and themain reaches or beams 2. The heads 1 are shapedapproximately trapezoidal and are formed with hollow interiors and withan open 3 5 top and bottom. Located in each end of the heads 1 andextending parallel with theirrespective head ends, and consequentlydiagonally, are the walls or partitions 8, which operate to formdiagonally-disposed passages or ways in each end of the heads 1, and inwhich the legs 4 are respectively arranged. Legs 4 are four in number,two for each head, and are of such a size in cross-section that theywill lit snugly within the passages of the heads and be capable of anunrestrained longitudinal movement therein.

Formed on the inner sides of the legs 4 and extending longitudinallytheir entire length are the grooves 5, which are one for each leg 5o andwhich are adapted for 'the reception of the cords or ropes G. The ropes6 are one for each head, and have their ends secured to the upperextremities of their respective legs 4f by means ofl the metallic plates7, which are notched to permit the passage of the ropes and secured t-othe legs by bolt-ing or otherwise. Midway the ropes 6 they are passedthrough a transverse openingS in the drums 9, and secured therein by anypreferred means, and by which the ropes are rigidly connected 6o totheir respective drums. Drums 9 are, as will be readily understood, onefor each of the ropes 6 `and are revolubly mounted in the side walls ofthe heads l, the inner ends being extended beyond the heads and thereprovided with the washers 10, whereby they are prevented from outwardmovement. The outer ends of drums are also extended beyond the heads'and reduced and shaped square in cross-section, whereby the ratchet- 7odisks 11 may be easily secured thereto, and whereby the crank 12 will becapable of removable connection therewith. The ratchetdisks 11 are onefor each drum and are adapted to cooperate with the pawls 13, which arepiv- 7 5 oted to the outer sides of each of the heads 1 and arranged toengage with the periphery of their respective disks, while the crank isadapted for use in` connection with both drums. To attain this end, thecrank is made 8o interchangeable and removable and when not in use maybe hung from the hook 14, which is secured to the outer side of one ofthe heads 1.

Formed in each of the legs and extending 8 5 throughout their length arethe holes l5,which pass transversely through the legs and are adaptedfor the reception of the pins 16. These pins are one for each leg andare secured to the heads by means of the cords or 9o chains 17, wherebythey will not become lost when removed from the legs. The pins 16 areadapted to pass into the openings in the legs j ust above the heads 1and to bind against the upper edges thereof and prevent the legs 9 5from dropping down when the trestle is raised. Thus it will be seen thatthe heads l may each be raised on their respective legs by operating thedrums 9 to wind up the ropes G, and that by this the height of thetrestle may be loo niigv the two beams.

regulated. Pins 16 are used to prevent the displacement of the legs whenthe trestle is being transported, for without them the legs will fallout of their openings when the trestle is raised.

The reaches or beams 2 are, as before described, two in number and aresecured to the middle of the upper edge of their respective heads andproject inwardly therefrom. The connection is effected by means of theplates 17, which are one for each beam and which are rigidly secured totheir upper sides and project inwardly from the beams and across the topof theheads 1, to which they are also rigidly secured. In addition tothe plates 17 I provide the braces 1S and 19, the former of which aresecured to one side of the inner end of each beam and bends at rightangles thereto, at which bend they are rigidly secured to the innersides of the heads 1, while the braces 19 are two for each beam and aresecured to the under side thereof and extend outwardly and downwardly tothe heads. I'Iere they are rigidly secured by bolting or otherwise. Bythis means the beams 2 are connected to the heads in a manner as rigidas could be desired. The beams 2 are connected to each other by means ofthe keepers 20 and thimble 21. The keepers 20 are two in number and aresecured to the left-hand beam at approximately its middle and project tothe right thereof, so as to snugly receive the companion or right-handbeam, while the thimble 21 consists of a square metal sleeve of a sizecapable of snugly hold- Thi mble 21 is not permanently attached toeither of the beams, but may be moved longitudinally thereon, so that itmay be always placed as near the end of the left-hand section aspossible.

Formed in the upper edge of the heads 1 and ondiflerent sides of thebeams in each head are the longitudinally-alined notches 22, in whichthe extensible rods 23 are ar-A ranged. These rods are one for each headand are held in their respective notches by means of the transverseplate 2l, secured to the upper edge of the heads and on the upper sideof the rods, and by the keepers 25, which are in turn secured to thebeams 2 on the sides thereof against which the rods bear. By means ofthese rods the longitudinal eX- tent of the trestle may be extended evenfarther than by extending the beams 2, and when the arrangement is to befolded these rods may be moved in, so as to lie inside the heads.

To use my appliance, the drums 9 are operated to raise the heads 1 andtheir attached parts to the requisite height, whereupon the pawls 13 aremade to engage their respective disks and the pins 16 secured to thelegs l at the proper point, thereby making the legs incapable ofmovement in either direction. The beams 2 may then be movedoutlongitudinally until the desired length is given the trestle,whereupon its adjustment will be complete. Should it be desired to movethe trestle through a space which will not admit the legs 4 in anupright position, they may be allowed to drop out of their passages andassume the position shown in Fig. 7. The space occupied by the appliancecan be still further reduced by entirely disen gagin g the beams 2,whereupon the two sections maybe placed side by side or in otherposition, thus greatly reducing the size of the appliance.

Ilaving thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A trestle having a reach or longitudinally-extendin g main beam, ahead connected rigidly to each end thereof, each head having therein twoapproximately vertical passages, a supporting-leg arranged in each ofsaid passages and having a longitudinal movement therein, a winding-drummounted in each head, and a rope or ropes connected to the drums and tothe legs, whereby upon operating the drum Ithe trestle may be raised orlowered at will, substantially as described.

2. A trestle having a reach or longitudinal main beam, a head connectedrigidly to each end thereof, each head having two approximately vertiealpassages therein, a supportin g-leg arranged i'n each` passage andcapable of vertical movement therein, a winding-drum mounted in eachhead, a rope or ropes for each head and connected to the upper ends ofthe legs of their respective heads and to the drums, whereby uponwinding the ropes on the drum the legs will be` drawn downwardly and thetrcst-le consequently raised, and means operating with the legs, wherebythey are prevented from dropping down when the trestle is raised,substantiallyas specified.

3. A trestle having a reach or longitudinal main beam, a head securedrigidly to each end thereof, two approximately vertical legs for eachhead and having a longitudinal movement on their heads, a winding-drummounted in each head, and a rope or ropes connected to the legs and tothe drum, whereby the former may be moved on theI heads, and the heightof the trestle adjusted, substantially as described.

4t. A trestle comprising a reach, heads connected by the reach andprovided with substantially vertical passages or ways, legs arrangedwithin the passages or ways of the heads, the latter being capable of'upward and downward movement on the legs, and mechanism connecting theheads with the legs, whereby the trest-le is raised and lowered,substantially as described.

5. A trestle comprising areach, heads connected with the reach andprovided with substantially vertical passages o1` ways, legs provided atintervals with perforations and arranged in the passages or ways of theheads, the latter being capable of upward and downward movement on thelegs, winding-drums IOO IIO

mounted in the heads, ropes connected with my`owu I have hereto affixedmy signature in the drums and with the upper ends of the the presence oftWo Witnesses. legs and pins arranged in perforations of the legsandlocated atcthe upper edges of the JAMES RATLEDGE 5 heads, substantiallyas and for the purpose Witnesses:

described. M. E. L. SHANKS, In testimony that I claim the foregoing asC. H. J. ROONEY.

